Retractible stepladder for vehicles



May 8, 1962 D. FUGERE RETRACTIBLE STEPLADDER FOR VEHICLES Filed NOV. 6,1959 Fig.

Dale F ugere IN VEN TOR.

BY ova Wavy FM States Pater lfifrce 3,033,309 RETRACTIBLE STE LADDER FORVEHICLES Dale Fugere, P.O. Box 293, Dunseith, N. Dak. Filed Nov. 6,1959, Ser. No. 851,450 3 Claims. (ill. 182-90) This invention relates toimprovements in retractible stepladders for use on motor trucks,trailers, and the like by drivers or.other persons ascending into ordescending from such vehicles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a ladder of simple,practical form for the above purpose and which is attachable insuspended position to such vehicles and includes an upper 'step carryingsupport attachable to the vehicle and a lower step carrying supportnormally retracted upwardly, when not in use, into an out-of-thewayposition and adapted to be projected and lowered into suspended positionin response to foot pressure thereon by a person using the ladder toascend into the vehicle or to descend therefrom.

Another object is to provide a ladder according to the foregoing whichis telescopic for retraction and lowering of the lower step carryingsupport whereby to guide said lower step carrying support in retractionor projection and lowering thereof. I

Still another object is to provide in a ladder according to theforegoing means of simple form for retracting the lower step support.

Still another object is to provide in such a ladder, efiicient means forlimiting retraction, and projection or lowering of the lower stepsupport relative to the upper step support.

Yet another object is to provide a ladder according to the foregoingwhich is safe, easy to attach and detach, is light in weight, yet strongand can be manufactured at a low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a stepladderconstructed in accordance with this invention with the upper stepcarrying support attached to the body of a vehicle and the lower stepcarrying support projected and lowered by foot pressure of a personpreparing to ascend into the vehicle body;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken onthe line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 with the lower step carrying support lowered,and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the stepladder detached and drawn to asmaller scale with the lower step carrying support shown lowered in fulllines and retracted in broken lines, the view being turned through anangle of ninety degrees relative to the illustration of the ladder inFIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, according to this invention, astepladder, designated generally 1 is provided comprising an uprightupper tubular step carrying support 3 and an upright lower tubular stepcarrying support 5 of smaller diameter than said upper support and whichis slidably telescopically fitted in said upper support 3 for guidedretraction upwardly therein and projection downwardly therefrom forlowering.

An upper elongated flat step 7 extends laterally horizontally from thelower end 4 of said upper step support 3 with an outer upturned end 9 toprevent a foot from slipping olf said step, and a rear end notch 11straddling said support 3 and welded, as at 13, thereto.

A lower step 15 like the upper step 7 extends laterally horizontallyfrom the lower end 6 of said lower step support 5 and is similarlyattached to said lower support 5 by a rear end notch 17 and welding 19to the lower end 6 of said lower support. The upper and lower steps 7,15 extend oppositely relatively from relatively opposite sides of saidupper and lower step supports 3, 5, respectively.

Means is provided for attaching the stepladder to the bottom 21 of thebed 23 of a motor truck 25, or like vehicle, comprising a horizontalattaching plate 27 welded, as at 28, on the upper end 29 of said uppersupport and through which said upper end 29 of said upper support opensfor a purpose presently seen. Marginal bolt holes 31 are provided in theattaching plate 27 for receiving attaching screw bolts 33.

The means for retracting the lower step carrying support 5 comprises ahelical tension spring 35 in said upper and lower supports 3, 5, withterminal hooks 37, 39 thereon hooking detachably around a pair of upperand lower crosspins 41, 43 fixed in the upper and lower ends 29, 6 ofsaid upper and lower supports 3, 5 respectively. As will be seen, thehooks 37, 39 may be detached from the crosspins 41, 43 for removing andreplacing the spring 35 through either end 29 or 6 when desired.

Means for limiting retraction and projection or lowering of the lowerstep carrying support 5 comprises a radial stop lug 45 suitably fixed tothe upper step carrying support 3 and projecting into the lower stepcarrying support 5 through a longitudinal slot 47 in said lower support5 having closed upper and lower ends 46, 48 respectively.

The operation and use of the described invention will be readilyunderstood. Normally, as shown in FIGURE 3, in broken lines, the lowerstep carrying support 5 is retracted upwardly in the upper step carryingsupport 3 to retract and raise said lower section 5 and the lower step15 into elevated out-of-the-way position established by engagement ofthe lug 45 with the lower end 48 of the slot 47. As a person 49, asshown in FIGURE 1, starts to ascend into the truck, or vehicle, 25, heplaces one foot on the lower step 15 and presses downwardly thereon,whereupon, the lower step carrying support 5 is projected downwardlyinto its limit of lowering movement as determined by engagement of thelug 45 with the upper end 46 of the slot 47. This spaces the lower step15 below the upper step 7 so that the person 49 may ascend the ladderinto a position to enter or climb into the truck or vehicle 25. As soonas the person 49 steps on the upper step 7 and releases the lower step15, the lower step carrying support 5 and the lower step 15 areretracted into the out-of-the-way position as shown in FIGURE 1. In thisconnection, it will be noted that the stepladder is of a length suchthat when the lower step carrying support 5 is retracted to retract thelower step 15 that is when the ladder is in normal position, the lowerstep 15 is positioned below the upper step 7 within easy reach from theground by the foot of a person 49 standing on the ground. In descendingthe person 49 first uses the upper step 7 and then steps onto the lowerstep 15, whereupon, the lower step support 5 and the lower step 15 areprojected downwardly until the stop lug 45 engages the lower end 48 ofthe slot 47. Then the person may descend to the ground and as soon asthis occurs, the lower step support 5 and the lower step 15 areretracted into the out-ofthe-way position. As will be seen, the lug 45and slot 47 prevent the lower step carrying support 5 and the lower step15 from rotating relative to the upper step carrying support 3 and theupper step 7.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A vehicle stepladder attachment comprising a pair of resilientlyretractible, vertically extending telescoping tubular upper and lowersupports having a pair of horizontally extending steps on the lower endsof said supports, said upper support being secured to and carried by amounting plate by which said attachment is fastened to a vehicle insuspended vertical position, said supports being open at both ends ofeach and said lower supports being slidable Within said upper support,spring means received within both of said supports and connected theretoat the opposite ends of said supports for yieldingly urging saidsupports into their telescopingly retracted position, stop means carriedby said supports for both preventing rela' tive rotation and limitingvertical telescoping movement between said supports, said legs extendingin opposite directions and longitudinally of the vehicle.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spring means is connected tosaid supports by pins extending transversely of the supports and withinthe latter at the open upper and lower ends of said upper and lowersupports respectively.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said stop means comprises avertically extending slot in said lower support and an inwardlyprojecting member disposed within said upper support and slidablyreceived in said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS157,730 Washburn Dec. 15, 1874 532,967 Kelley Ian. 22, 1895 691,872Rehkopf Jan. 28, 1902 966,043 Nelson Aug. 2, 1910 2,195,162 Baxter Mar.26, 1940

